Greetings From Allentown

Take a break from the holidays and settle in for some NWA/WCW goodness with a look at NWA Pro from May 12, 1990! - Ongoing issues in WCW: a new booker, an injured Sting, Robocop, and unhappy Ric Flair - What is going on with Ric Flair’s hair and is it the inspiration for a Simpsons character? - Inside the negotiations to bring Sid Vicious into the Four Horsemen - Lance Russell: bringing sanity during uncertain and stressful times - Barry Windham fails a lie detector test - How being unmasked liberated Doom to pursue greatness - Mean Mark learns hard lessons on selling against Road Warrior Animal - Reflecting on the late Tom Zenk Plus: - The hilarity of Ole Anderson’s outfit with suspenders - Johnny Ace is a member in good standing of the Jimmy Garvin Appreciation Society - Oddly prominent advertisements on WCW TV - A possible connection between Norman and Braun Strowman - The return of YouTube comment theater! ** Vote for PWO-PBTN for best podcast network in the Sheety Awards! ** http://www.sheetsandwich.c

It’s not Arsenio from LA, it’s not Oprah from Chicago, it’s not Joe Franklin from Secaucus! This week it’s a look at WWF Prime Time Wrestling from June 17, 1991! - A brief history of the Prime Time format that featured a studio audience, meditating on the lives of those in the audience, and wishing to be a part of that - The fall of the Tugboat and Vince McMahon’s attempt to join the great play by play calls in sports history - Virgil and “Virgilina”: a round of applause for an American hero - Reasons for Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s over the top patriotism - Gary Strydom cuts a “promo” at the WBF Championship - Jake Roberts works with an unlikely ally against Earthquake - Bobby Heenan channels Ted Knight’s character from the 1980s sitcom “Too Close For Comfort” Plus: - The return of the “Andre to English” dictionary! - Lord Alfred Hayes does something very unusual to pick up women - Sean Mooney asks important questions on play by play about cemeteries and the Ted DiBiase/Sensational Sherri relationship Email: Gre

This week 1989 WWF is in the spotlight as we take a look at WWF Wrestling Spotlight from December 16, 1989! - The Sensational Queen Sherri has a freakout: assaulting Ian Mooney and climbing cages - Gorilla Monsoon as the Pat Buchanan of wrestling announcers and imagining Gorilla running a supermarket - Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake tell a fanciful tale of an alleged motorcycle trip to the North Pol - Al Burke: the Renaissance man of late 80s enhancement talents - Bad News Brown invokes President George H.W. Bush, Pope John Paul II, and Hollywood Hogan in asking for title shots - The bizarre commercial airing immediately before the Jake Roberts match - Why 1989 was a bad year to be a Bolshevik both in kayfabe and in real life Plus: - Explaining away what seems to be a spoonerism by Zeus - The true meaning of the timekeeper ringing the bell constantly during an angle - Trying to understand Lord Alfred Hayes’ use of the English language - Jesse Ventura (accidentally?) books a match for WrestleMania VI - YouTu

This week we re-visit the year 1986 for a look at Jim Crockett Promotions with an episode of NWA Worldwide from March 29, 1986! - The great missed opportunity of JCP in 1986, why it went down that way and why 1987 was too late - Paul Jones, Jimmy Valiant, and the Manchurian Candidate - Breaking down the Pez Whatley attack on Jimmy Valiant, including theories on why Pez was carrying scissors - Joe “Nighthawk” Coltrane’s promo goes on and on and on and on - If Arn Anderson wants to destroy your left arm, he’s going to destroy your left arm - Jimmy Garvin does a comedic bit using the telephone - The Midnight Express: equal opportunity squash artists - Dusty Rhodes and Tully Blanchard have interesting things to say about each other - The more interesting teams from the 1986 Crockett Cup tournament - David Crockett can’t even get excited about a Ronnie Garvin squash Plus: - How doing this podcast has changed what I value and the way I watch wrestling - Earnestly fact-checking Jimmy Valiant’s assertion about Pist

Grab a turkey leg and sneak away from the family to take in some WWF Superstars from December 1, 1990! - The Undertaker talks on WWF TV for the first time but no one can settle on if he is Kane the Undertaker, Cain the Undertaker, or just plain ol’ Undertaker - Examining the Gobbledy Gooker: what they were trying to accomplish and different steps they could have taken to make it work - A rundown of the Texas Tornado’s IC title reign and wondering if it is the worst singles title reign in pre-1992 WWF history - Theorizing on a faux pas leading to the end of Tugboat’s 1990 push - The nuanced acting of Wrestling Superstar Virgil - Fact-checking Hacksaw Jim Duggan’s remarks on Operation: Desert Shield and Iraq - A bizarre exchange on commentary about Superfly Jimmy Snuka - Why Power and Glory was likely doomed from the start Also: - Earthquake leaves a voicemail for Hulk Hogan - Feeling bad while researching Akio Sato - Taking in the varied crowd at an independent wrestling show - A real life TV invasion angle

Get ready for Thanksgiving with a special holiday-themed edition of WCW Prime from November 20, 1995! - Dusty Rhodes is hyper on color commentary even by his lofty standard: talking to turkeys, shoutouts to the ring crew, and identifying as Jewish(?!?) - What exactly is the turkey doing behind Dusty Rhodes? - Early WCW Eddie Guerrero and regrets about missing the key part of his career - The biggest problem with the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame - Bart Sawyer: From Bart Simpson to the Scorpion King - Mr. Wonderful deals with an internal crisis as anyone else would: by calling for a psychic - Trying to make sense of Ric Flair’s color and gear choices Also: - Classic commercials and discussion of 1-800-Collect, video game Vectorman, Ovaltine, and Time Life music infomercials - Pitching a movie based on the madcap adventures of WCW Prime hosts Chris Cruise and Dusty Rhodes - Yet another Dungeon of Doom promo leaves the viewer scratching their head - Surprise at how fun the 1995 World War 3 PPV wa

This week it’s time for a look at WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event, FOX-style from February 8, 1992 - The motivations for FOX to jump into the wrestling game at that point and examining their usual Saturday night schedule from that winter - Sid Justice is a man for all seasons: acting, talking, wordsmith, speechwriter, philosopher - Deconstructing Sid’s case for being the number one contender and whether it actually holds water - Anger at the WWF re-recording commentary on the sacred 1992 Royal Rumble to try and change history - An appreciation of the original theme for The Mountie - Jim Duggan’s key role in rehabbing Sgt. Slaughter all the way back from Iraqi turncoat to American patriot - Roddy Piper’s IC title reign and why this is a case where babyface vs babyface made sense for WrestleMania VIII against Bret Hart Plus: - A theory on why the Barber Shop segment had to end when it did - The Genius opens the door for some Gilligan’s Island talk - Being annoyed at a recurring part of NHL games this season -

Grab your Members Only jacket because Greetings From Allentown is headed back to March 7, 1981 for a look at WWF All Star Wrestling featuring Sgt. Slaughter’s Cobra Clutch Challenge! - Breaking down one of the greatest WWF angles ever as Pat Patterson finally accepts the challenge from Sgt. Slaughter after many weeks of buildup; also paying tribute to Slaughter’s incredible versatility - A musical tribute to Angelo “King Kong” Mosca’s time as a color analyst on Maple Leaf Wrestling - The red hot S.D. Jones (yes!) has his hands full with the Hangman - Vince McMahon hangs poor Freddie Blassie out to dry on a promo - Moondog King and his brief taste of glory - Yoshiaki Yatsu and figuring out what was in it for both WWF and New Japan with their partnership - Tony Garea comes to the rescue, sort of Also: - How much money would Patterson have if he had been paid the $10,000 and invested it wisely? - Who is this Black Demon running away from the Cobra Clutch Challenge? - Imagining Dominic DeNucci as a 1970s sitcom

Buckle up because it’s time for da Prime! WCW Prime that is, from August 19, 1996. - Dusty Rhodes explains it all: Clubberin’, the nWo, Craig Pittman’s push, not taking bumps, and anything else on his mind - The origins of the Prime Network in the Los Angeles area and how it evolved over time - Why WCW Prime was such a unique show - Scott Norton and a theory of why he was always stuck on the nWo B-team - Marking time in 1996 by observing the color and length of Sting’s hair - Recalling the Dean Malenko drinking game - Konnan’s “Mexican Heavyweight Title” - Kurasawa: The Lex Luger of Japan? Also: - Why Peter has not eaten at McDonald’s since 1996, which turns into a rant about the Frosty at Wendy’s and coffee in hotel rooms - The delightful chemistry between Dusty and Chris Cruise - Tom Emanski and the endorsement of Fred McGriff - A poor choice of words about the 1996 Atlanta Olympics - YouTube Comment Theater!

Greetings From Allentown gets extreme this week with a look at ECW Hardcore TV from February 25, 1998. - Why ECW was important to me at that point in time and the bizarro universe the entire promotion seemed to operate in - Taz as an alternative to Stone Cold Steve Austin and his feud with Bam Bam Bigelow - A moment of silence turns into an all-boys high school assembly - Suggesting a different theme song for Shane Douglas - Discussing the in-house ads for ECW: Extreme Warfare Volume 2 and Born To Be Wired - The importance of limiting the size of Justin Credible’s entourage - Sunny keeps a secret from Chris Candido yet again before his match with former partner Lance Storm - New Jack: terrifying and hilarious at the same time Also: - What the hell is Brakkus doing in the ECW Arena? - Recounting various fan chants heard over the years - Imagining Bam Bam Bigelow playing golf - Scoring Tom and Jerry episodes on points - A brief and sheepish Vinnie Vegas Corner

On this episode of Greetings From Allentown, Peter takes a look at WWF Wrestling Challenge from March 12, 1989. - Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan duel on promos, with the Macho Man intense as ever and Hogan talks about being “crucified” - A breakdown of the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers theme song with the little heard French portion - Why it wasn’t a good idea to have the Rockers and Strike Force swap matches at WrestleMania V - An Andre the Giant interview forces the return of the “Andre to English” dictionary - Akeem’s critical role in the Twin Towers team - The problem with WWF Womens’ champion Rockin’ Robin Also: - Childhood memories of the Dukes of Hazzard - John Ziegler: enhancement talent/National Hockey League President? - An idea for modern WWE merchandise for the hot stable - A plea for an earlier start time for Wrestlemanias for the sake of fans in Europe - An abbreviated Vinnie Vegas corner and the return of YouTube Comment Theater!

Close the windows because the Heat is on: WWF Halftime Heat from January 31, 1999! - Why Vince McMahon would have called the Rock-Mankind empty arena match even if Jim Ross was healthy - The true winner of the empty arena match - The difference in how head injuries were viewed in 1999 versus today - Shane McMahon as an announcer: the most annoying man in the world - Chyna’s heel turn and examining it from a kayfabe perspective - An appreciation of late 90s Big Bossman and the evolution of the character - A look back at the fun “UFC-style” matches between Ken Shamrock and Owen Hart from summer 1998 - Triple H becomes a misogynist in putting down Chyna Also: - A recollection of the most boring NHL game the host attended, which was on the same date as this show - A personal story about the Will Smith song “Miami” turns into a rant - Low blow after low blow after low blow - What was the actual halftime show of Super Bowl 33 that anyone watching this would have missed - The reluctant return of Vinnie Vegas Corn

Get off that top rope because Bill Watts is large and in charge for WCW Saturday Night from June 20, 1992! Included: - The good and bad of the changes made by Bill Watts upon his arrival - Johnny B. Badd: One of the greatest WCW character creations - Checking in with Scott Steiner, Shoney’s restaurant franchisee - The greatest hits of enhancement talent Bob Cook - Cactus Jack’s voice sounds a bit like a guy named Foley, but not Mick - What Greg Valentine and former MLB pitcher Jack Morris have in common - Dusty Rhodes gets profane - Tony Schiavone is totally sick of Jesse Ventura’s crap - Finding another problem with Terry Taylor: his whiny voice Also: - A plea from the host for any El Dandy matches announced by Dusty Rhodes - One animal in nature that Arn Anderson cannot defeat, based on his own remarks - The changes in the Steve Harvey-hosted version of Family Feud and potential parallels to wrestling - WCW inadvertently honoring Pride Month? - The debut of a new segment honoring Vinnie Vegas

On this special episode of Greetings From Allentown, Peter pays tribute to the storied career of the late Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Included: - Heenan’s feuds with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant that stretched for years and Bobby’s instrumental role in making WrestleMania 3 as big as it was - The Brain’s wheelings and dealings with his charges and those he helped elevate - His 2004 WWE Hall of Fame induction speech and how it compares with other HOF speeches both in WWE and in other sports - Heenan as a superlative comedian - Gorilla and Bobby: A Plan B for two different shows - A musical tribute to the Brain’s sublime call of the 1992 Royal Rumble

Raise the stars and stripes as this week features a look at WWF All American Wrestling from November 13, 1983! - The early format of WWF All American Wrestling and how it evolved with the sneaky use of wrestlers from other promotions - Sorting fact from fiction on the career of the Fabulous Moolah - The life and times of Ken Jugan - Tony Garea and Iron Mike Sharpe renew their rivalry in “The Last Battle of Allentown” - Bob Backlund helps Eddie Gilbert rehab an injury and things get weird - Hulk Hogan is all over the map in late 1983 and forms a tag team with the highest ego rating ever - The origins of the phrase “Katy bar the door” Also: - Saying goodbye to the Grand Wizard and his glorious attire - Multiple references to 1960s star Luis Martinez - So many plugs for Victory magazine, including what may have been Lord Alfred Hayes’ first WWF on-camera appearance - Iranian shenanigans in the Middle East in 1983 - YouTube comment theater!

Get ready for some explosive talk show action for this episode of Greetings From Allentown looking at WWF’s TNT (Tuesday Night Titans) from August 16, 1985. - A brief history of Tuesday Night Titans, issues with the name, and how the 1984 version of the show was like a modern day WWE problem - The original opening song to TNT: what it was originally supposed to be used for, and a later sporting event where it served as the theme - Terry Funk starts and finishes a barroom brawl after being insulted by Lord Alfred Hayes - A bounty on Mr. Wonderful leads to the first ever Paul Orndorff/Phil Collins mashup - Tony Garea and his hair tell us all about New Zealand but mostly about the sheep population - Corporal Kirchner is coming….but was he already there? - Jim Neidhart complains about future wrestling fans on the internet without even realizing it Also: - The missed opportunity of Vince McMahon playing a true Johnny Carson role - Sympathy for England getting screwed in the 1986 World Cup - Research about Tony G

Saturday Night’s alright for fighting as this week features a look at Saturday Night’s Main Event from January 4, 1986 in part 2 of the Fortnight of (Terry) Funk - Terry Funk’s history with Hulk Hogan which dates to the early 1980s and all the way to Sun City in Africa - Jesse Ventura calls out Brent Musberger and Vin Scully as he works a match and does commentary on the same show - Calling out Mr. Fuji for blatantly misrepresenting the Japanese people - George “The Animal” Steele and why he was a critical figure in the first few years of Saturday Night’s Main Event - Corporal Kirchner: It’s 4:20 somewhere! - Iron Sheik promos: unselfish in his patriotism - The beauty of the original music used in the show Also: - A quick rundown of the ill-fated 1985-86 season of Saturday Night Live, which was preempted for this show. - Referee Dean Malenko: Man of 1000 holds but doesn’t remember the rules for pinfalls - Hulk Hogan and his alternate uniform system - Cousin Luke as the #9 hitter in the lineup - Discussion o

Clear off all the tables and keep your head on a swivel because Greetings From Allentown kicks off a Fortnight of (Terry) Funk with a look at NWA Pro from May 20, 1989! - Excerpts from Terry Funk’s book giving insight to how he saw his role for this run in the NWA/WCW and why the tone of his feud with Ric Flair was changed midstream - The legendary Lance Russell is full of wisdom and also disgust for the heels - Terry Funk interrupts the Rookie Challenge match as only he can - Breaking down the six different kinds of “wrestling mists” as The Great Muta busts out the green kind - Lex Luger’s righteous indignation toward his top ten ranking by the NWA board - How Dick Murdoch’s honesty toward management sunk his 1989 run - The battle of (Eddie) Gilbert and (Kevin) Sullivan: Clash of the southern bookers - Ron Simmons turns up yet again and why Randy Rose is back so soon - A sudden realization about the relative attractiveness of Terry Gordy Also: - A comparison of Terry Funk and baseball legend Nolan Ryan - T

The forecast for this week’s Greetings From Allentown calls for Sunny skies with a look at WWF Mania, rebranded temporarily as The Sunny Show, from March 9, 1996. - A fair-minded look at the career of Tammy Lynn Sytch and her key role in launching the WWF’s online presence - Shawn Michaels’ run to WrestleMania 12, his connection with Sunny, and the peculiar thing he was into back then - An appreciation of old commercials for bizarre merchandise - Ranking the Bret Hart WWF World title reigns from worst to best - Breaking down the Billionaire Ted skits piece by piece, with things that were funny, things that were slanderous, and things that backfired completely - Taking several minutes to slam JBL as a wrestler, character, broadcaster, and human being in general - The definition of “diminishing returns”: The Ultimate Warrior’s 1996 run - Goldust toeing the line of homophobia in Piper’s Pit - Bret Hart as environmentalist: recycling perfectly good finishes - A struggle to find a theme song this week leads to a

This week on Greetings From Allentown, take cover because the Megapowers are going to explode on The Main Event II from February 3, 1989! - How the WWF masterfully built to the split between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage and their use of the Rashomon effect in the leadup to the WrestleMania V match - A rundown of the events leading up to the breakup, laying blame at the feet of all of them - The passion of Vince McMahon reading the intro to the show - A look at what was going on at the ABC television network, which was beating this show in the ratings that night - Breaking down the mechanics of the Elizabeth bump - Fun with the original broadcast bloopers from Hogan, Brutus Beefcake, Akeem, and the Big Bossman - Months ahead of No Holds Barred, Hulk Hogan gives a national audience a preview of his acting chops - One of wrestling’s greatest tag teams reunite to break up the Hogan-Savage fracas - Hulk Hogan channels the Incredible Hulk and works over a couple of future WWF champions - Hercules slips on a banana